My dear husband's greatest temptation these days is anger. I contest that it's from playing violent video games and watching violent movies, but he thinks not. I pray for his temper quite often. When we are driving or when he sees some injustice his first impulse in his mind is to punch some guy in the face. Crazy huh, when you think of my husband. He's never actually been violent with anyone, but you should here the way he thinks sometimes. All our temptations start in our mind and from there we have to learn to control those thoughts. So for this week I will pray frequently for my husband and his anger.
When we first met, and even at the beginning of our marriage, he seemed to struggle more with lust. He is very aware of his nature and is very careful to not even let his eyes wander. I am so grateful for that. But I also have observed the way women notice him and his total oblivion. This keeps me on my knees about his faithfulness. Unfaithfulness, is our biggest marital fear, isn't it? Would you stay? Would you leave? Who could you confide in? What could you have done better as a wife? For me, it is a fear because I know that I have made my commitment to the Lord for better or worse and Amos's behavior was never a factor in my commitment. That puts me in a very scary place. I know that our assurance is in the Lord and if Amos took his eyes off our God for a time, it would be easy to stray. So as a result I have always prayed for God to guard our marriage.
Lord calm my husband's spirit. Let his first reactions to negative things be righteous. Change his thinking so that anger isn't a temptation for him anymore. Help him to be angry and not sin. (Eph 4:26) Father also guard his mind against any lustful thoughts. Help him to guard his eyes also. Thank you for his desire to remain faithful and pure in his marriage. Please help us both to always stay focused on you and to always endure the temptations that come up in our lives. Please Lord help us to be great wives, who desire to love and please our husbands. But more importantly Lord, let our husbands find their fulfillment in you so that they are not searching for appreciation, love, affection or respect from anyone outside of their marriage. Please help us to be aware of the things that are tempting our husbands at different times in their lives so that we may be in prayer for them. Please give them godly male friends who they can confide in, who will come beside them in prayer and support. Thank you again Father, for dying on the cross, so that we can come before you with these requests. Thank you for your sacrifice and help us to be grateful everyday for our salvation and transformation in you. Please guard our husbands especially this week in the area of temptation. Please make them aware of any sin in their lives and convict them to pluck it out. (Matt 9:47) Please help them to desire to be more like you Jesus everyday.
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My husband's biggest temptation is being consumed with wanting materialistic things. It's the typical story where he was raised up in a very poor environment, so now it seems like he is trying to make up for that. We are so very blessed in so many ways, but he never seems to be satified with what we have. He is always looking for the next best thing. And I must admit that it is very easy/tempting to get caught up in that lifestyle of spending. Once you start, it is hard to stop. But, I musn't be an enabler...I find myself saying yes to all these things...I guess you could say I am a push-over.
Sometimes I see it as the "driving" force in his life and that is when it becomes dangerous. But, thankfully, he realizes that this is one of his areas of weakness and prays about it daily. I need to do my part and pray for him as well. Strangely enough (well, not that strange, it's God we are talking about), he came to me this week and told me that this is a weak spot for him a he wanted us to start tithing.
I guess there are far worse things that my husband could be tempted with, so I feel grateful in that sense. But regardless, sin is sin and sin keeps us from seeking God with all of our hearts. So, I must pray for myself and my husband and here is my prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that you show Tony that the things of this world will never bring happiness and fulfillment. The only fulfillment is with you, my Lord. Please help us to keep an eternal perspective on life and to put all of our efforts into that instead of worldly things. Lord I pray that the "driving" force in our lives is You and furthering Your kingdom. I pray that you may guide us in our finances and help us to make wise decisions. Let us be grateful for the many blessings we have received and be responsible stewards of what You have so kindly given us. Let our hearts and minds be consumed with You and nothing more. Please give Tony and I the strength and power to avoid temptations of all kinds and to always look for Your escape route. I pray that you may help me to see what is best for us and to be able to say no. Give Tony the strength and leadership to lead us to You and to glorify You by giving back.
In the name of Jesus we pray,
Amen
Jessica, I can relate with you in this area. Travis is a bargain shopper which is great but only because it's on SALE does not mean get it now. I have been praying that God will help him be a better steward of our money. I pray for our Lord to put a burning desire in Travis' heart to seek heavenly riches.
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